Roadside Mowing - Priorities and Scheduling

Provide information on our ROW mowing activities and scheduling.  The Public Works Department is responsible for mowing city owned ROW and various open spaces/properties owned by the City of Ramsey or the HRA.  Large area mowing normally starts in late May or early June, with ROW mowing starting in late June or early July.  The first areas mowed are the properties in the COR owned by the City of Ramsey or HRA. The large open areas are mowed with a tractor pulling a large rotary type mower.  This mower cuts a 14' swath on each pass.  After that work is complete the operator switches to a rear flail type mower, to cut the rougher areas or areas where the larger mower would be ineffective.  As the large equipment operator is mowing, we also have our seasonal staff mowing next to the curb lines, cleaning up any grass missed by the large mower.  This person also weed whips around light fixtures, hydrants, signs, etc.... Both operators need about 16 hours per mowing event to complete their tasks.  We mow in the COR every 2 weeks during the peak season.  The HRA budgets $6500.00/season for the mowing in the COR, after that amount is exhausted, the cost is covered by the general fund.  For ROW mowing the tractor with the flail attachment is used.  Mowing starts on the arterial roads and when those are complete we move into residential areas.  If we receive complaints about poor visibility at intersections, we respond to those first and then go back to our normal schedule of mowing.  We also respond to visibility complaints from residents on county or state roads, simply because we have more flexibility in our scheduling and we want to increase safety, no matter who's responsible for road maintenance.  We try to get through the entire city at least twice a summer.  We have one person who is largely dedicated to large area mowing/ROW mowing from mid May-early October.
 

5 minutes

Possibly contract out mowing in the COR area. This area is well defined geographically and would be easier to develop contract terms for compared to citywide ROW mowing.

General Fund and HRA Budget

Informational only

Based on committee discussion